Harvesting
Harvesting is the means by which players gather and accumulate resources in preparation for Crafting, Building, or other in-game activities -- essentially personalizing their characters and space within Stars Reach. Harvesting spans several Professions, each requiring unique Tools for harvesting a given resources type. Players may harvest on the surface of planets, within community-run and private farms, in addition to space asteroids.
Harvesting Resources
Currently, plants, trees, and minerals have been metioned as gatherable (and destroyable, if permitted by the governing bodies of the planet) from the open world.
With Star Wars: Galaxies being a large influence on the gathering and crafting professions in Stars Reach, we might also see gasses and organic materials such as leathers, hides, bones, and meats harvestable.
Like Star Wars: Galaxiles, resources will shift and move in order to promote exploration and the discovery of new resource locations.[1]
Resources can also be exhausted, while some are renewable and regenerate over time. Some you can import from one world to another. This temporary unavailability is likely to create economic opportunity.[2]
Resources are initially spawned when the planet is created. Each resource will appear in a place that makes sense for it to be in. All of this is based on the planet's topography profile and then simulated.
Harvesting Professions
Stars Reach 40+ professions will include several specifically related to harvesting. Based upon current information, we expect some variation of Mining, Logging, and Herbalism. If we look at Star Wars: Galaxies as reference, we're likely to also see some form of Hunting/Skinning, Gas harvesting, and Liquid harvesting professions.
Harvesting Tools
Harvesting will require specific tools to gather specific resources. With a limited number of tools/weapons able to be equipped at a time (5 is the current limit), this is likely to require players plan ahead for their journey and the resources they desire to harvest.
Harvesting Skills
Tools will allow players to gain Skills in their respective harvesting professions. Like Combat, Skills are likely to play a part in the speed, volume, and rarity of materials being harvested during the harvesting process.
Farming
Player and community-run farms have also been teased. Farms will enforce permissions so that only players with appropriate access can utilize them, thus reducing griefing.[3]
